The Perizzites were one of the ancient Canaanite tribes mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. They are often listed among the inhabitants of the land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham. The name "Perizzite" is thought to mean "villagers" or "dwellers in the open country," suggesting that they lived in rural areas rather than fortified cities.

In Genesis 13:7, the Perizzites are mentioned alongside the Canaanites as inhabitants of the land during the time of Abram and Lot: "And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and Perizzites were dwelling in the land." This indicates their presence in the region long before the Israelites entered Canaan.

The Perizzites are also listed among the nations that the Israelites were commanded to drive out of the Promised Land. In Exodus 3:8, God tells Moses, "I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."

Despite the command to drive them out, the Perizzites continued to coexist with the Israelites for some time. In Judges 3:5-6, it is noted, "Thus the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods."

Hivites

The Hivites were another group of Canaanite people who inhabited the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. The origin of the name "Hivite" is uncertain, but they are frequently mentioned in the context of the conquest of Canaan.

In Genesis 10:17, the Hivites are listed as descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, indicating their place among the Canaanite tribes. They are also mentioned in Genesis 34:2, where Shechem, a Hivite prince, is involved in the incident with Dinah, the daughter of Jacob: "When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force."

The Hivites are included in the list of nations that God promised to drive out before the Israelites. In Exodus 23:23, God declares, "For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will annihilate them."

One of the most notable interactions with the Hivites occurs in Joshua 9, where the Gibeonites, a group of Hivites, deceive Joshua into making a peace treaty with them. Joshua 9:7 states, "The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, 'Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?'" Despite the deception, the treaty was honored, and the Gibeonites became servants to the Israelites.

Jebusites

The Jebusites were a Canaanite tribe that inhabited Jerusalem, known as Jebus before its conquest by King David. The name "Jebusite" is derived from Jebus, the ancient name of Jerusalem.

In Genesis 10:16, the Jebusites are listed among the descendants of Canaan, indicating their Canaanite heritage. They are frequently mentioned as inhabitants of the land that God promised to the Israelites. In Exodus 3:8, God describes the land as "the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."

The Jebusites are most famously associated with the city of Jerusalem. In Judges 1:21, it is noted that "the Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem; so to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites." This indicates that the Jebusites maintained control of Jerusalem until the time of David.

The conquest of Jerusalem by David is a significant event in biblical history. In 2 Samuel 5:6-7, it is recorded, "Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. And the Jebusites said to David, 'You will never get in here; even the blind and lame can repel you,' thinking, 'David cannot get in here.' Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David)." This marked the beginning of Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Israel.